Refrigerating apparatus



,634,813 July 5 19257' T. c. WHITEHEAD REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS FiledJuly 1926 Patented July 5,. 1927.

UNITED 'STATES THOMAS C. WHITEHEAD',

or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. I

hApplication led July 6,

v frigeration as now` extensively practiced it is necessary to employthe services of skilled engineers or mechanics to assemble and servicethe apparatus 1n use. This is particularly disadvantageous in connectionwith' that type of electrical refrigerating apparatus which is soldwithout the refrigerator cabinet for installation by 'the purchaser-inan ordinary commercial type of refrigerator, because this type ofapparatus is saleable over the other types which include as a partthereof the cabinet, particularly because it may be more economicallysold and is presumed to require-less servicing by skilled refrigerationexperts.

However, with this type of apparatus as heretofore manufactured it hasbeen necessary in practice' 'to employ the services of skilled mechanicsfor the purpose of assembling and setting up the apparatus in connectionwith the refrigerator-and for testing and adjusting the apparatusv.prior to use. The need for' such service increases' the cost of theapparatus accordingly and is particularly burdensome to the manufacturerwhen the ap aratus is sold in rural districts remote rom thedistributing branch of the manufacturer. l s

It is .therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide arefrigerating apparatus which may be conveniently and satisfactorilymanufactured and shipped -in two separate units vwhich when received bythe urchaser may be readily set u and assem- Eled in connection with therefrigerator box.

Another objec'tof this invention consists in so constructing theapparatus and the connection betweenthe two units thereof that theentire apparatus may be readily set up and 'tested at the factorywhereupon the "conduits connecting the two units may be sealed or closedby suitably arranged valves, to confine the refrigerant within eachunit, and the conduits disconnected or uncoupled to facilitate aseparate packing and shipment thereof to the purchaser. With such aconstruction the purchaser can mount the compressor and condenser unitexteriorly of the refrigerator box and the expansion coil unitinteriorly thereof and by extending the connecting conduits `of one ofthese units 'through the wall of the box and further by connecting thecorresponding conduits of the two units by a valved coupling on the endsof these tubes the apparatus will be ready 1926. Serial No. 120,714.

for use merely by opening the valves in the tubes which places the unitsin communication with one another.

The above and otherobjects, advantages and novel details of constructionof the invention will be made more apparent as this descriptionproceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrative of the invention associatedwith a refrigerator box.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the conduit. tubes coupling element.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through this coupling elementand Figure 4 is a sectional View therethrough taken substantially onaplane indicated by line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Referring now particularly to the drawing wherein like referencecharacters indi) ca 'te like parts, it will be noted that there is'fragmentarily illustrateda refrigerator box 10 provided with arefrigerant containing compartment 11.

e mechanical or electrical refrigerating apparatus consists of two unitsA'and B. 'The unit A includes a base 12 upon whicha motor 13, compressor14 and condenser 15 are mounted. The motor 13 will drive 'the compressorthrough a belt herein indicated by the reference character 16.

The unit B ,includes an expansion coil 17 disposed within a brine tank18. The reference character 19 indicates an expansion valve interposedin the tube or conduit 20 connected to the inlet end ofthe expansioncoil 17. The reference character 21 indicates a tube connected to theoutlet end of the expansion coil 17. The top loop or the upper part ofthe condenser 15 isv connected' to the discharge sideof 'the compressorby means of a conduit 22 and the lowermost loopl or part of thecondenser is provided wit conduit 24 companion to the conduit 23 isconnected to 'the inlet side of the compressor 14. Thus it will be seenthat the two units A and B of the apparatus are each provided with apair of tubes 23 and 24, and 20 and 21 respect1vely, which whenconnected will operatively associate these units. y"

As one convenient means for detachably connecting these two sets oftubes and for affording a valve control for the refrigerant contained ineither lor both of these units, I

Uliv

an outlet conduit or tube 23. A tube or' in any suitable manner.

have provided a valve coupling element 25 illustrated more particularlyin Figures 2 to 4; inclusive. This coupling element consists of two;`corresponding or companion parts 26 each of which is provided with apair of longitudinally extending passages 27 for connection respectivelywith the conduits 20 and 21 or 23 and 24. Each of the couplingelementparts 26 is provided with a'valve 28, herein shown as a rotary valve,provided with ports 29 adapted to be brought into or out of registrationwith the passages 27. Each valve will referably be rotated through themedium o an irregular shaped projection 30 on one end thereof engageableby wrench or like tool. The two parts 26 of the couplino'. element maybe united or coupled together by means of .longitudinally extendingbolts 31.

In operation the unit A of the apparatus may conveniently` be mounted orplaced upon the top of the refrigerator box and the unit B will beplaced Within the compartment 11 and mounted or supported thereinInasmuch as it is preferable that the entire surface of the tank 18 beexposed .to a circulation of the air the unit B should be so positionedWithin the com artment 11 as to accomplish this. In the il ustrativeembodiment of the invention as herein shown and described the tank 18 issupported spaced from the bottom of the compartment 11 by means o f legsor other supports 32. 4

The units A and B may then be operatively connected by uniting the parts26 of the coupling element 25. For accomplishing this either the tubes23 and 24 of the unit A are passed into the box 10 through an opening 33formed in the Wall thereof or the tubes 20 and 21 of the unit B ma bepassed outwardly through the wall o the box l0 through the opening 33.Obviously the purchaser of the apparatus may cut the hole 33 through thewall of the box 10 at any desired point but as it would be lessconspicuous at the rear of the box the openinU 33 is shown herein aslocated at that point. Obviously only a relative] small opening 33 needbe cut into the refrigerator wall and after either set of tubes havebeen inserted therethrough the space around the tubes. may beiclosed inany suitable manner.

With the units A and B mounted exteriorly and interiorly of therefrigerator as just described and with the ends of the tubes of theseunits connected together through the medium of the coupling element 25,the apparatus will be in condition for operation merely by opening thevalves 28 whereupon l a free circulation is provided for the refrigerantthrough the entire apparatus.

The valved coupling` element not only affords convenient means forreadil connecting and disconnecting the conduits of the two units butalso providesmeans for retaining Within each unit the refrigerantpresent therein after the testing of the apparatus at the factory. Thusthe manufacturer may place in the system asuficient amount ofrefrigerant and by connecting the two units as described may subjectthe'. a paratus to a thorough test to ascertain positlvel that theentire apparatus is free from aws and Works satisfactorily. He then mayclose the valves 28 in-each of the coupling element parts 26 anddisconnect the coupling element to permit the shi ment of the units. Thepurchaser upon receipt of the apparatus may install the same in themanner aforedescribed and by opening the valves 28 may place the unitsin communication With one another ready for use.

Obviously the unit .A need not bel mounted upon the refrigerator box butmay be disposed in any other convenient place. Furthermore the unit Bneed not include a brine tank 18 but may consist solely of an expansioncoil. Furthermore the character and arrangement'of the apparatus mountedon the base l2 of the unit A may differ as found desirable orexpedient.Furthermore thermostatic or other automatic control means may beassociated with the apparatus for controlling the motor 13. VIn a likemanner other types of coupling elements 25 may be utilized with equaleffectiveness and the( valves herein shown as associated with thecompanion parts of the coupling element may obviously be disposed atother oints in the apparatus and retainfthe rerigerant in the units justas effectively. A

It will therefore be apparent that the principles of this invention Varecapable of expression in various types of apparatus and the conventionalform of construction herein shown is .for illustrative purposes only andshould not be considered as limiting in any respect the principles ofthe invention. Reservation is therefore made to make such changes in theessential and all of the nonessential details of the invention as maycome within the purview of the accompanying-claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A refrigerating apparatus formed of two separate units one of whichconsists of a base and a motor, compressor and condenser mounted onysaid base, the other unit including an expansion coil, said second unitbeing mounted within a refrigerator box, conduits vconnected to saidcondenser and compressor, corresponding conduits connected to saidexpansion coil `and a valved coupling element. comprising headsconnected to they ends of each set of conduits, said heads beingprovided with passages extending longitudinally thereof and connectin'with the aforesaid conduits2 valves carrie by said heads for closingsald passages and l compressor,

means for securing the said heads together.

2. A refrigeratxng apparatus formed of two separate units one of whichconsists of a base and a motor, compressor and condenser mounted on saidbase, the other unit including an expansion coil, said second unit eingconduits connected to said condenser and corresponding conduitsconnected ,to said expansion coil-and a valved coupling elementcomprising heads connected to the ends of each set of conduits, saidheads being provided with longitudinally extending passages adapted toregister with each other and to communicate with the aforesaid conduits,valves carried by said heads and extending transversely of said passagesfor closing the same, and means for securing the said heads together..

3. A. refrigerating apparatus formed of two separate units, a base and amotor, compressor and condenser mounted on said base, the other unitincluding an expansion coil, said second unit being mounted within. arefrigerator box, conduits connected to said condenser and compressor,corresponding conduits connected to said expansion coil and a valvedcoupling element comprising heads connected to mounted within arefrigerator box,

one of which consists of` the ends of each set of conduits, and havingflat abutting end faces, said heads being provided with longitudinallyextending passages adapted to register with each other and forcommunicating withthe aforesaid conduits, and means for holding saidfaces in abutting relation and said passagesin registration with eachother.

4. A refrigerating apparatus formed of two separate units, one of whichconsists of a base and a motor, compressor and condenser mounted on saidbase, the other unit including an expansion coil, said second unit beingmounted within -a refrigerator box,

conduits connected to said condenser and 4 compressor, correspondingconduits Iconnected to said expansion coil, and a valved couplingelement comprising heads connected to the ends of each set of conduits,and having flat abutting end faces, said heads being provided withcentrally disposed passages communicating with the aforesaid conduits,and having spaced longitudinally extendin openin s on each side of saidpassages andr bolts a apte-d to engage said openings for holding vsaidend faces in abutting relation. In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

THOMAS C. WHI'IEHEAD.

